Ahead of Lula’s trial, thousands of his supporters are participating in mass demonstrations across Porto Alegre, where his trial will be held.

Corruption charges filed against former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva, who is set to stand trial on Jan. 24, are examples of targeted “political oppression,” his defense team has asserted.

During a legal and logistical briefing held Monday, Lula’s team of lawyers addressed the charges, which they described as “politically motivated.”

In July 2017, Judge Sergio Moro alleged the former leftist president was guilty of corruption and money laundering, resulting in a ten-year jail sentence. The sentence was grounded on claims that he and his wife illicitly received millions in kickbacks from the OAS Group construction company as well as furniture and improvements for their beachfront apartment in Guaruja.

The Cuban president has condemned the attempts to destabilize Venezuela.

President Raul Castro has repeated Cuba’s support for the Venezuelan government as it faces “an unconventional war” led by “imperialism” and the country’s “oligarchy” in a bid to topple President Nicolas Maduro with a coup.

During a speech marking the end of the Cuban Congress’s extraordinary session, Castro condemned the opposition violence initiated in April on the streets of Caracas and other cities as “fascists actions.”

He mentioned the videos showing several young Venezuelans being burnt alive during anti-Maduro protests.

The refusal of OAS to address the political crisis in Brazil contrasts with its aggressive stance toward Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez criticized the Organization of American States for failing to address the volatile situation in Brazil where protesters outraged over the mounting corruption scandal implicating President Michel Temer were met with military violence and repression this week, while repeatedly calling for intervention in Venezuela.